Is it common to get a yeast infection before or after every period?

This has been happening for about 4 months and I have never given birth and I don't have HIV or diabetes. Its really uncomfortable and I am very careful about what I use before and during my period in that area. I have not changed any soaps or anything.

The hormonal fluctuations women experience because of their menstrual cycle every month is the primary contributor to yeast infections.

Talk to your doctor. He or she might have some solution that you can try (like treating with Monistat-1 every month just before your period or taking Diflucan monthly).

You can also help yourself by taking an OTC probiotic. I recommend Fem-Dophilis (found in any good health food store), to help curb vaginal yeast and keep your good bacteria healthy. Eating yogurt daily (with active cultures) can help too.

yeast infections are b*tches! try sleeping without under wear at night that will help some.. the best thing to treat instead of going to the doctors is the one day night/day stay in place monistat.. you can almost feel them coming on!!

No. This is not common. It is more common, as you note, with diabetes (sugar is food for yeast), and in immunosuppressed conditions (AIDs for one), but lots of things can also lead to immunosuppression ranging from steroids to anti-rejection drugs. Also, antibiotics can predispose you. Finally certain habits can make this more likely like not drying off after swimming or bathing. Sometimes the yeast infection just has never been adequately treated. But I would see your doctor just to make sure.

The real issue is probably a chronic yeast infection. Been there. Done that. Your pH could be off. When you get your period you get slightly more acidic and the yeast dies. Otherwise, your vagina needs help creating the good bacteria that keeps the yeast at bay. I suggest going to the doctors. For me I was given some medicine but the best thing was using plain yogurt with live cultures. You can soak a tampon in it or use a baby medicine dropper and insert it. It's a little messy but the good bacteria in the yogurt helps you a lot and can work better than drugs. I was allowed to use a plain vinegar and water douche once a week and use yogurt as needed in order to get my pH balanced again. It took about 7 months but I'm doing much better now. I was a virgin and didn't have diabetes so it was a pH problem. Talk to your doctor and see what options are out there. Some women do get a yeast infection right before their period and that's because of their hormone levels. It sounds like for you if you don't have your period you have a yeast infection and that's a chronic infection. Try plain yogurt (Stoney Farm and Dannon are great!).

Yes it's common.

The pH down there changes during the cycle, There is a relationship between alkaline pH and yeast growth, and it is alkaline before and during your period.

Try eating some yogurt with active cultures, this should help to prevent and clear it up